LENGTH

length

(noun) a section of something that is long and narrow; “a length of timber”; “a length of tubing”

duration, length

(noun) continuance in time; “the ceremony was of short duration”; “he complained about the length of time required”

length

(noun) the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place; “the length of the table was 5 feet”

distance, length

(noun) size of the gap between two places; “the distance from New York to Chicago”; “he determined the length of the shortest line segment joining the two points”

length

(noun) the property of being the extent of something from beginning to end; “the editor limited the length of my article to 500 words”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

length (countable and uncountable, plural lengths)

The distance measured along the longest dimension of an object.

Duration.

(horse racing) The length of a horse, used to indicate the distance between horses at the end of a race.

(mathematics) Distance between the two ends of a line segment.

(cricket) The distance down the pitch that the ball bounces on its way to the batsman.

(figuratively) Total extent.

Part of something that is long; a physical piece of something.

Verb

length (third-person singular simple present lengths, present participle lengthing, simple past and past participle lengthed)

(obsolete) To lengthen.

Source: Wiktionary


Length, n. Etym: [OE. lengthe, AS. leng, fr. land, long, long; akin to D. lengte, Dan. længde, Sw. längd, Icel. lengd. See Long, a. ]

1. The longest, or longer, dimension of any object, in distinction from breadth or width; extent of anything from end to end; the longest line which can be drawn through a body, parallel to its sides; as, the length of a church, or of a ship; the length of a rope or line.

2. A portion of space or of time considered as measured by its length; -- often in the plural. Large lengths of seas and shores. Shak. The future but a length behind the past. Dryden.

3. The quality or state of being long, in space or time; extent; duration; as, some sea birds are remarkable for the length of their wings; he was tired by the length of the sermon, and the length of his walk.

4. A single piece or subdivision of a series, or of a number of long pieces which may be connected together; as, a length of pipe; a length of fence.

5. Detail or amplification; unfolding; continuance as, to pursue a subject to a great length. May Heaven, great monarch, still augment your bliss. With length of days and every day like this. Dryden.

6. Distance.[Obs.] He had marched to the length of Exeter. Clarendon. At length. (a) At or in the full extent; without abbreviation; as, let the name be inserted at length. (b) At the end or conclusion; after a long period. See Syn. of At last, under Last.

– At arm's length. See under Arm.

Length, v. i.

Definition: To lengthen. [Obs.] Shak.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

23 January 2025

LEFT

(adjective) being or located on or directed toward the side of the body to the west when facing north; “my left hand”; “left center field”; “the left bank of a river is bank on your left side when you are facing downstream”


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Coffee Trivia

Contrary to popular belief, coffee beans are not technically beans. They are referred to as such because of their resemblance to legumes. A coffee bean is a seed of the Coffea plant and the source for coffee. It is the pit inside the red or purple fruit, often referred to as a cherry. Just like ordinary cherries, the coffee fruit is also a so-called stone fruit.

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